Page 77 of Sheltering His Second Chance

He rubbed his jaw. “What are you going back to?”

She seemed to think over the question before she finally answered. “I have things I need to handle. I think I’ll visit my parents in Florida for a bit. Take in the sunshine and sand.” She wiped the wetness from her cheeks. “I need to figure out where I go from here.”

“Because you haven’t yet?” He smirked.

“I’ve realized a lot since my divorce.”

He was salty, for sure, and he needed to stop. He was teetering between what he wanted to tell her and what he should tell her to protect his heart. “You deserve happiness and I’m sure you’ll find it.”

She blinked and a frown crossed her lips. “Thanks, I guess.”

“What are you wanting me to say?” He exhaled.

She threw up her hands. “I don’t know.” She stared into the sky. “Before I got here I had a one-track mind. I didn’t plan on finding someone who I enjoy spending time with. Yet, we both know neither of us are willing to compromise. I have no clue where my career is headed.”

“Yeah, there’s that.” He controlled his bitter tone.

“Come to Florida too. Take a vacation. Nothing must be settled tonight, next week, or even next month,”

He couldn’t say how tempted he was to simply run home, pack his best jeans and hat. “Then we’d be right back at this impasse, as you called it.”

She sighed. “Are you always this stubborn?”

“Pretty much.”

She smiled. “I should have run the second you allowed your wolf to attack me.”

He laughed, “He would have chased you because you won him over from the start.”

“How about his master?”

He shifted and looked at the craggy, pointed tops of the mountains. “I hear Florida is pretty spectacular this time of year.”

“Beaches. Long walks. Sunsets. Sounds romantic if you ask me.”

Now they’d found a conversation like old friends. Maybe that’s what they could be. Friends. Buddies. Nah, he wanted no part of that. A man couldn’t be friends with a woman he almost banged and fell for. He didn’t need to be so crude, but facts were facts.

“How about a hug?” Yep, he’d knitted himself back together and would force himself to walk away with a strand of pride. Although inside he was a massive ball of slush.

She walked into his awaiting arms and they stood there, wrapped in each other for the longest time. No other goodbye had hurt like this. He had so much to say, but how could he convince her to stay? He even thought maybe he’d agree to go with her but he knew eventually he’d want to come home. If neither of them would be happy, what chance for a future together did they have?

Chapter Twenty-Two

She’d arrived late at her parents’ beach house. As she stood at the window looking out onto the waves crashing against the sand, she had to admit they had a perfect view. She found it comforting, but not as much as she’d found Montana. She didn’t think she’d miss it so much but after spending two weeks in Chicago and liquidating most of everything she owned, she’d had plenty of time to think about her future. Although Gray had told her he’d never reach out to her again, he did during her last day in the city.

It had been a cordial meeting. He told her that Jetta had informed him that the baby she was carrying wasn’t his. So, Gray left her and was realizing how foolish he’d been.

She’d even had a short conversation with Edgar. She’d been tempted to tell him to kiss her ass, but instead she informed him that his company was about as shitty as his hairpiece.

On the beach, a couple came into view. They were walking their dog that made Parker miss Chow. She’d grown to love the dog…and his stubborn master. Her heart skipped a beat. Could she really have fallen for him?

The man on the beach stopped and kissed the woman passionately before they continued their path. Parker felt something akin to envy, jealousy, and a wave of sadness. Why was she feeling like this? Unnecessarily?

The only way to have Raven was to move to Second Chance. His life was there.

Could she do that for him and their love?

“Did you see the RV in the driveway?”

---